The Boston University Photonics Center<\/strong> hosts several REU programs every summer, bringing students from other colleges and universities to BU for collaborative and immersive research experiences. REU projects span\u00a0biomedical, mechanical, electrical, computer, and materials science engineering; physics, chemistry, and biology; and photonics and optics.\u00a0Participants are matched with labs based on their interests and skills. Prior research experience is not necessary. Students new to research are encouraged to apply.<\/p>\n The REU program offers participants many benefits. The most significant is hands-on laboratory research experience where students are mentored by world-class faculty<\/a> as well as graduate students. During their ten weeks at BU, students work on their own research project, developing and refining important laboratory and essential skills. They participate in a variety of professional development workshops, social activities, and networking opportunities, as well as explore Boston<\/a> and nearby areas.<\/p>\n 2026 REU program dates are May 31 – August 8. Participants are provided:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Principal Investigator: Professor Xin Zhang Students in the Integrated Nanomanufacturing REU will work in the vital research area involving nanoscale structures, devices, and systems. Integrated nanomanufacturing research supports a wide range of applications in biotechnology and healthcare, robotics, electronics, computing, artificial intelligence, and energy.<\/strong> Participants engage in mentored research and discovery, exploring nanoscale systems, fabricating novel devices, and engineering new materials. In addition to independent research projects, participants receive training and access to state-of-the-art equipment through the Site\u2019s group training sessions in photolithography, 3D printing, and electron microscopy.<\/p>\n The INM REU also engages innovative nanotech companies located in BU\u2019s Business Innovation Center to serve as research mentors for a select group of REU participants who express a preference for work involving translation.<\/p>\n The BU Photonics Center has been administering the Integrated Nanomanufacturing REU program since 2015 and has successfully hosted more than 100 INM students over 10 summers.<\/p>\n Principal Investigator: Professor Darren Roblyer Students in the Translational Biophotonics REU will conduct fruitful research in the development of biophotonic technologies \u2013 optical technologies to sense properties of biological molecules, cells, and tissues that reflect disease conditions.<\/strong> Biophotonics technologies include lab- and clinical-based systems as well as portable, at-home, and wearables technologies that can reduce burdens on patients by reducing cost and hospital visits. REU participants will gain an appreciation for how these technologies can affect the real world, in terms of basic science and clinical care. Participants will also be trained in the process of translation<\/strong>, including the identification of unmet needs, regulatory pathways, market analysis, entrepreneurship, and commercialization. Students will conduct customer discovery interviews for their own projects to evaluate whether they are working towards solving a true unmet need. They will also learn from successful entrepreneurs and clinicians who are translating biophotonic technologies in real time. Further goals of this REU are to develop written and oral communications skills and the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams. Students will also be taught principles of biomedical and engineering ethics.<\/p>\n <\/em><\/span>Program Director: Professor Davi<\/span>d Bishop BU is the lead institution for the NSF Engineering Research Center in Cellular Metamaterials (CELL-MET) which aims to transform cardiovascular care by combining breakthroughs in nanotechnology and manufacturing with tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Participants in the CELL-MET REU will conduct research in support of cardiac tissue engineering.<\/strong> Projects may involve the latest multiscale 3D printing technologies to engineer cell scaffolds, constructing actuators to foster desired activity of cells and tissue, and advanced imaging to monitor and control cellular activity. The ultimate goal of this research is to fabricate personalized heart tissue that could replace diseased or damaged muscle after a heart attack<\/p>\n Project information<\/a> will be updated as it is received.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Our projects involve and integrate multiple disciplines, and all STEM majors from 2- and 4-year colleges are invited to apply. No prior research experience is required. First generation college students and students from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Preference is given to highly motivated applicants who lack access to comparable opportunities at their home institutions.<\/p>\n BU undergraduates are not eligible for these REU programs<\/em>. Opportunities for BU undergraduates are described here<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n We encourage you to review our FAQ page<\/strong><\/a> for answers to frequently asked questions.<\/p>\n For further inquiries about the program, please email us at phoreu@bu.edu or fill out our contact form<\/a>. Please allow a few days for a response.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n Program Directors: Professors Thomas Bifano and Ji-Xin Cheng<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The Photonics Undergraduate Research Summer Experience<\/strong> (PURSuE) program is for rising seniors with photonics research experience who are interested in pursuing doctoral research related to photonics at Boston University. Participants engage in active research at a BU Photonics Center lab in research areas<\/a><\/span> including but not limited to biophotonics, nanophotonics, photonic materials and devices, neurophotonics, and lasers, nonlinear optics, and quantum photonics. PURSuE participants are asked to identify faculty they are interested in working with and will be placed in one of their top choice labs for the summer. This is a BU-funded REU program, open to US citizens and to international students studying at a US college. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n Program Director: Professor David Bishop<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The Materials Science REU<\/strong> is for students interested in materials science and engineering.\u00a0 Students conduct research with faculty affiliated with BU’s MSE Division. This is a BU-funded REU program, open to US citizens and to international students studying at a US college. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 2026 REU Programs Past REU Programs (not offered in 2026) <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19768,"featured_media":0,"parent":5718,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/photonics-programs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6268"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/photonics-programs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/photonics-programs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/photonics-programs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19768"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/photonics-programs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6268"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/photonics-programs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10198,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/photonics-programs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6268\/revisions\/10198"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/photonics-programs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/photonics-programs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
2026 REU Programs<\/h3>\n
NSF REU Site in Integrated Nanomanufacturing (INM)<\/h5>
\nco-Principal Inve<\/span>stigator: Professor Thomas Bifano
\n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nDescription<\/h5>\n
Eligibility Requirements<\/h5>\n
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NSF REU Site in Translational Biophotonics<\/h5>
\n<\/em><\/span>co-Principal Investigator: Professor Irving Bigio<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nDescription<\/h5>\n
Eligibility Requirements<\/h5>\n
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NSF ERC in Cellular Metamaterials REU (CELL-MET) <\/h5>
\n<\/em><\/span>co-Principal Investigator: Professor Chris Chen<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nDescription<\/h5>\n
Eligibility Requirements<\/h5>\n
\n
2026 Projects & Mentors<\/h3>
<\/ul>\n
Who Should Apply?<\/h3>
Eligible participants are:<\/h5>\n
\n
Questions?<\/h3>
Past REU Programs (not offered in 2026)<\/h3>\nBU Photonics Undergraduate Research Summer Experience (PURSuE)<\/h5>
Description<\/h5>\n
BU Materials Science REU (MSE)<\/h5>
Description<\/h5>\n